Freshly renovated and recently reaccredited, Lakeland College’s Child Development Centre at the Vermilion campus is humming with activity with many live the learning experiences led often by very little people.
“We provide care for children aged 19 months to five years. Every day, one of them will say something thought-provoking or entertaining,” says Tracy Wasylishen, child care provider and alumni of Lakeland's early learning and childcare program. “While we work to provide a caring and stimulating environment for our children, we find that they also enrich our experience in so many ways.”
That positive and interactive philosophy serves as the guiding foundation for the child development centre which acts as an on-campus learning lab for early learning and child care students as well as a public daycare. Children at the centre are welcome from the community as well as from college staff and students.
With accreditation from Alberta Child and Youth Services, the child development centre is licensed to accommodate up to 28 children. Unfortunately, due to changes introduced by the Alberta government, it’s no longer able to provide afterschool care.
As an accredited child care centre, there are several advantages that work to benefit children, says Pat Wasylik, ELCC program chair and instructor. “All staff must hold specific qualifications in early learning and child care. The quality of programming and the functionality of our facility must also meet specified standards,” says Wasylik.
The centre follows the philosophy of guiding children through prosocial behavior which encourages cooperation, empathy and altruism. “These principles are built into our programming and play an important role in the assurance of quality,” she adds.
A typical day at the centre for children involves indoor and outdoor play, developmentally appropriate planned activities, story time, snack and lunch times. All meals and snacks meet nutritional guidelines as outlined in the Canada Food Guide. Menus are set by the child development centre’s supervisor in consultation with Aramark’s cafeteria staff.
To brighten up its physical space, the centre recently received a fresh coat of paint, new bulletin boards, light fixtures, blinds and storage areas. A new outdoor play structure will also be added soon.
While Wasylishen and her colleagues say their days with their little clients are typically abuzz with activity, there are currently spots available to take more children.
For more information or to register, people from the community or the college may call the child development centre at 780 853 8531. People may also drop by the centre to welcome its new supervisor Ann Smith.
At the Lloydminster campus, work to construct a new child learning lab is underway. It is expected to be complete by the fall of 2010. The college is working with Kasian architects to design the facility that is expected to accommodate up to 56 children. The new child learning lab will be used as a demonstration centre and practicum site for students taking university transfer, education, nursing and human service programs.
